Under the so-called “once 8(a), always 8(a)” rule set forth in the FAR and SBA regulations, when a procurement has been accepted by the SBA for inclusion in the 8(a) Program, any follow-on contract generally must remain in the 8(a) Program, unless the SBA agrees to release it for non-8(a) competition.
This week Jonathan Aronie, partner at Sheppard Mullin, joins Off the Shelf for an engaging discussion of schedules modernization and Section 846.
Source: Section 846 & schedules modernization – Federal News Network
As more formerly furloughed feds filter back to work, no doubt they’re finding all sorts of piled up tasks both pressing and trivial. To help with the backlog, the Partnership for Public Service has put together a 10-step plan and a special re-open checklist. Margot Conrad, the Partnership’s director of federal workforce programs, had more on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.
Source: A 10-step checklist for agency leaders returning from shutdown
Among its suggestions to streamline the acquisition process, the Section 809 Panel has proposed to eliminate the ability to file a protest at GAO and the Court of Federal Claims. Instead, the Panel would require protesters to choose between filing at GAO or the Court.
The subject of contracts piques the interest of vendors – seasoned and new. Contracts are that tricky piece of the sales puzzle that can push a great opportunity just out of reach – if your products and services are not on the right contract!
Source: NCPA Contracts Offer Access to a Wider Swath of SLED Marketplace | Government Sales Insider
As we’ve discussed in previous posts, if you want to initiate a size protest, you generally must do so within 5 business days after the contracting officer notifies you of the prospective awardee’s identity.
Source: OHA Rules that Size Protest Wasn’t Five Years Too Late | SmallGovCon – Government Contracts Law Blog
Bid protests, contract protests — they’re the part of federal procurement everyone loves to hate. But like many governmental functions, they serve a useful purpose. With many agencies and departments caught up in the partial federal shutdown, one might wonder whether the protest process has been affected. Joseph Petrillo, procurement attorney with Petrillo and Powell, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin with some answers,
Source: GAO is open but shutdown still likely to delay bid protests
Whatever one might say about the complexity of the federal procurement system, it has at least one thing going for it: Once a contractor has navigated the vagaries of the Federal Acquisition Regulation and won an award, the government is extremely good at paying its bills on time.
Source: Government’s reputation as prompt bill payer among shutdown’s casualties
The Commercial Solutions Opening, or CSO, is a new version of the OTA. DOD is starting to use CSOs to acquire new and innovative commercial technology. IT vendors take note!
Source: The CSO: DOD’s New Way to Acquire Commercial Technology
Federal agencies spent a record $64.7 billion on IT contracts in fiscal 2018, according to research released this week by Bloomberg Government.
Source: Agencies Spent Record $64.7B on IT Contracts in 2018 – Nextgov
